This isn't the first rodeo for the matriarch, however. Krauter has watched this car streak down the hill for the past seven years.

"It's been in every race since the squirrel box races started," the Brevard resident said, adding that the car has won many trophies.

The car was built by her husband, Mike, for their daughter, Jessie. Jessie Krauter drove it for the first five years, and now Jessie's nieces and nephews have taken the wheel. Jessie drives the black White Lightning Squirrel car in the races nowadays.

The red, white and blue Freedom Flyer cruised to victory in three different heats Saturday, reaching a top speed of 29 mph.

Traveling that steep hill, while fun, also brings up other emotions, 9-year-old Nadia Revis said.

"It's scary," she said. "You're scared you're going to run into the other person."

That did happen once on Saturday. The Dugan's Pub car had to withdraw because of a bent axle after tapping another car. No one was injured in the accident.

Long before the homemade cars began racing down the hill, the massive crowds browsed through vendors' booths that lined the streets. Some played on the theme of the festival.

There were socks with squirrels on them, white squirrels in cages, white squirrel stuffed animals and even squirrel bobblehead dolls.

There was live music, food, a car show, balloon animals and face painting.